Korea-Poland Summit Due Today
By Na Jeong-ju
Korea Times Correspondent
WARSAW ― President Lee Myung-bak arrived here Tuesday for a summit with Polish President Lech Kaczynski and a meeting with Prime Minister Donald Tusk Wednesday.
Lee's Poland visit is part of a three-nation European trip, which will also take him to Italy for a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican Thursday and the expanded G8 summit in L'Aquila. He will then fly to Sweden on Saturday for a summit with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt on Monday. Lee will return home Tuesday.
It is Lee's first visit to Poland since his inauguration in February last year.
During the summit, the countries are expected to discuss ways to promote bilateral economic and diplomatic ties.
``Since Korea and Poland established diplomatic relations 20 years ago, their trade has increased steadily. The summit will focus on consolidating their partnership,'' a presidential spokesperson said.
Upon arrival here, Lee attended the Korea-Poland Business Forum, in which he called for stronger bilateral economic cooperation.
In a keynote speech, he proposed joint projects to develop energy and build plants, roads, bridges and railways in Poland to promote its economic development.
He also called for stronger cultural exchanges between the two countries, saying the combination of Korea's information-technology and Poland's rich cultural assets will provide them with new business opportunities.
Poland is the largest European trade partner for South Korea with bilateral trade of $4.4 billion last year. It is also the largest investment destination for Korean firms among European nations.
About 100 Korean firms, including Samsung Electronics, SK Chemical, Daewoo Engineering & Construction and LG Display, are operating here.
Lee also met with the leaders of Korean communities in Poland.
They asked Lee to positively consider regular friendly football matches between the national teams of the two countries and provide more support in spreading taekwondo in Poland.
Lee pledged to provide full support to facilitate cultural exchanges between the two countries, a presidential spokesman said.
On Wednesday, Lee will fly to Rome to pay a courtesy call on Pope Benedict. He will then move to L' Aquila to participate in the expanded G8 summit.
Lee plans to attend the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change along with the leaders from 17 countries. In addition, he will join other forums on trade and food security along with other participating leaders and heads of international organizations.
On the sidelines of the conference, Lee will also hold a series of bilateral summits with the heads of other countries.
On Saturday, the President will begin a three-day visit to Sweden for talks with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt. He is also scheduled to meet Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf.
During the meetings, Lee will solicit help from the Swedish leaders to secure an early conclusion of a free trade deal between Korea and the European Union. Sweden holds the rotating presidency of the world's largest trade bloc.
The talks will also focus on ways to strengthen cooperation in the areas of information and nuclear technology and ``green growth,'' the spokesman said.